El asesino del calendario

I'm watching the "thrilling" climax as I type this.

Listen, folks, this film wasn't meant to be taken seriously, it's meant more as a parody or farce. Just listen to the soundtrack during the "dramatic" moments, it's not even trying to be serious. I'm guessing the cast was struggling to keep from bursting out in laughter during the filming because it really is stuffed full of every imagineable cliche.

Though there are some original lines. "I want to make you haggis." I mean, come on, how can anyone even begin to imagine this was meant seriously. It's like a police drama version of "Showgirls".

Well, without as much skin. ;-)

I have always had "The January Man" on tape, but I never really sat down and watched it. One day I decided to give it a try, and I must say that it was unbelievable. Definitely one of Kline's best roles. Don't get me wrong, he was great in "A Fish Called Wanda", but he was in perfect form as Nick Starkey. And Rod Steiger was hilarious. And Alan Rickman was perfect as Ed. Great casting there. An amazing script, well directed, and great acting all around. I give it four out of four stars.

A serial killer is being chased by a detective (Kevin Kline). Along the way he has 2 romantic affairs and a quarrel with his brother. That's about it. And that's not a lot, story-wise speaking.

Great actors are the ONLY thing keeping this silly romantic detective afloat. But only just... However great these actors normally are, they dont act well in this movie, but since they are all great actors anyway their famous names suckered me into watching it. Wish I hadnt...sigh...

Basically all the actors are miscast in this movie. I really cant believe in any of the characters. The story is fluffy and the dialogues are mediocre. There is NO true suspense, which is kind of annoying, since it is a detective. There are few good jokes. The romantic scenes are many and they all are quite ridiculous, because they are not believable.

What's there left to like? Well it has got the promise of becoming great, because all these actors are terrific in OTHER movies. Unfortunately they aint terrific in this one. Skip it. Or watch it with the same feeling of promise and hope that it still might turn out to be okay, only to find out that it wont...sigh...

Good movie, even if it is a bit campy now. A great cast turn great performances with subtle comedy. Worth it just to see Alan Rickman as the brooding artist living next door. A comedy in the same spirit of "Rushmore". Ahead of its time and fantastic when you are in the right mood.

Kevin Klein walks a great line in this type of movie between a serious characterization and moments of comic hilarity. Susan Sarandon and Kevin Klein have wonderful on screen chemistry, and the rest of the supporting cast all are given opportunities to show off their skills through a well crafted script. It's well worth seeing.

First things first, this film has a few problems with trying to work out what it wants to be. Some of the scenes are a bit ridiculous and unrealistic, and sometimes it gets a bit slow. But that could be said about some hugely successful blockbuster films as well.

Underneath this is a good little crime thriller with some likable characters who are trying to work out the clues to catch a killer with a taste for strangling women in their city apartments.

Kevin Kline is enjoyable, Susan Sarandon and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio are classy, Harvey Keitel doesn't really do much and Alan Rickman kind of floats around to help loosen up the mood of the film. Some of the dialog sounds like it was lifted from an adapted play or is better for an older, more mature generation.

But, the stand out star of this film is Danny Aiello, who plays Captain Vincent Alcoa. He has a filthy mouth, loves yelling and putting people down all the time and has to deal with a Kline as a difficult police detective who returns to the job.

The film alone is worth seeing for his performance.